Repeal of same-sex marriage proposed to House

DOVER — When Richard Stanley thinks about what would happen if the state repealed same-sex marriage in the Granite State, he worries about his husband.

Stanley, 31, has been with his husband Christopher Somma, 32, for almost seven years.

In 2008 in their kitchen, the two were joined in a civil union. They were engaged for three years and decided to take the leap to help Somma get health insurance. Without the union, he could not be placed on Stanley's insurance.

They had already started making a life for themselves. They had a house and were planning on staying with each other for the rest of their lives. At the time, same-sex marriage was not legal in New Hampshire. It would take two more years before the state would recognize their union as a marriage.

In 2010, New Hampshire became the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage. That August, before a crowd of about 100 family and friends, Stanley and Somma were married in St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dover.

Now, a house bill, HB437, threatens their marriage. Proposed by Rep. David Bates, Rockingham, the bill would prohibit same-sex marriage in the state. The bill could be put to a vote as early as Wednesday.

Stanley is optimistic the repeal will be stopped, but the possibility of passing is still there.

Being married also protects their bank accounts, their house and any other assets. In the event something tragic were to happen, each would have legal rights to their belongings.

"Fortunately we live in New Hampshire. We're married. We're protected," Stanley said. "If something happens to us, if someone wants to go after us, we have survivorship benefits."

He said it scares him to think if same-sex marriage was repealed in the state, he and his husband would lose many of their rights. When leaving the state, Stanley worries if something would happen, their marriage isn't recognized everywhere. He would not have the right as a husband to make life decisions in medical emergencies.

"It's not like we plan on leaving New Hampshire," he said. "The fact that they were progressive enough to enact marriage for same-sex couples, it's reassured why we do love living here."

Co-sponsor on the bill, Rep. Carol Vita, Strafford, said she feels the repeal should pass.

"I feel marriage should be between a man and a woman as it is in the constitution," she said.

Although other states, like Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Iowa, have taken the stand to make gay marriage legal, she said it does not mean New Hampshire should have to follow suit.

"I just feel that because all the other states are doing this, why does New Hampshire have to do it," Vita said.

On grounds of having a "traditional family," Vita said it is necessary for a child to have both a female and male present during their upbringing.

If the bill passes, married gay couples will no longer receive the same benefits of their heterosexual married counterparts. Vita said it shouldn't be a concern.

"It's like anything else as far as benefits are concerned," she said. "Whether it's a job or health care, you go from year to year anyway. It changes. I don't see it will be a problem."

Others across the state have said there is strong support for same-sex marriages. Many have stated they don't understand why the Republicans pushing the bill would take away a right given to New Hampshire residents.

Caroline L. French has been living in New Hampshire for almost 60 years. The Dover resident said she is so upset, that if the repeal is passed, she's moving out of the state.

The mother of a recently married lesbian, French thinks its terrible the government would try to take back its decision to allow gay marriages.

"I love New Hampshire, and I have never ever said I would leave here for anything," she said. "I can't imagine being part of a state that would take rights away."

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